Georgia's Rosenwald School Legacy: Introduction

Julius Rosenwald

Julius Rosenwald was born on August 12, 1862, to Jewish immigrants in Springfield, Ill. He was a business man and part-owner of Sears, Roebuck and Company in Chicago. Rosenwald also was known for his philanthropy, especially his role in building new state-of-the-art schoolhouses for African-American children in the rural South.

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington was born a slave in Virginia on April 5, 1856. Washington put himself through school, became a teacher and rose in prominence to become one of America's most influential educators and Civil Rights leaders. He was a graduate of Hampton Normal Agricultural Institute in Virginia, and in 1881, Washington founded the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute in Alabama (now known as Tuskegee University). In 1912, Washington met with Julius Rosenwald to share a vision. The result of this meeting was an initiative that would build more than 5,000 new schools for black children in the rural South.

Rosenwald Schools Documentary

The Rosenwald School Initiative

Following the Civil War, the federal Freedmen's Bureau set up schools for freed slaves throughout the South. However, the local communities and state governments were not supportive of education for black children. School children often learned with out-dated, hand-me-down books and supplies in rundown under-funded school buildings.

In 1912, Booker T. Washington approached Chicago businessman and philanthropist, Julius Rosenwald, about a vision to build quality school buildings for black children.

The result of this meeting was an initiative that would build more than 5,000 new schools for black children in 15 states in the rural South and Southwest. 1912-1932.

Georgia had 242 Rosenwald-funded schools. Coastal Georgia is home to several:

Camden County

Kinlaw SchoolSilco SchoolSt. Marys School (CTS)Waverly School

Chatham County

Pin Point SchoolPractice School (Georgia A&M College)

Bryan County

Daniels Siding School

Glynn County

Glynn County Training School (Colored Memorial and Risley High)

Liberty County

Cross Roads SchoolHinesville Shaw SchoolThe Shop at County TrainingTrinity School

To search for Rosenwald Schools in other states, visit the Rosenwald Database at Fisk University.

*The St. Luke school was built during the Rosenwald School era, using a Rosenwald plan. However, it is not a documented Rosenwald School. It is not in the school archive at Fisk University.

School Preservation

The National Trust for Historic Preservation is one of many organizations and groups working to preserve the history and the buildings that tell the story of America's Rosenwald Schools. Watch a video about the history and preservation of Rosenwald Schools.

The Harrington School

Learn more about efforts to preserve the Harrington School on St. Simons Island, Georgia.